All-New Renault 4 Full Review: It’s Back! A Nostalgic Masterpiece – or Trying Too Hard?

Join Vicki Butler-Henderson as she drives the all-new Renault 4 – a retro-inspired electric reboot of one of France’s most iconic cars.

Once a rugged family favourite with over 8 million sold, the Renault 4 is back – this time with battery power, quirky styling, and a practical design that nods to its go-anywhere roots. But does this reborn classic stay true to its heritage, or is it trying a little too hard to be cool?

With up to 247 miles of range, 1405-litre boot space with seats down, and clever features like Vehicle-to-Load charging and customisable regen braking, it’s more capable than you might expect. And yes – that illuminated front grille might even remind you of a certain 1980s TV car.

Inside, the Renault 4 shares tech with the new Renault 5, but adds its own rugged charm and family-friendly space. Vicki puts it through its paces to find out if it delivers on comfort, character, and everyday usability.

Specifications
• Battery Range: Up to 247 miles
• Charging Speed: 15% - 80% in 30 mins
• Boot Capacity: 420 litres
• Price: Starting at £26,995 (evolution version) up to £30,995 (iconic version)
• Power: 150 bhp
• Acceleration: 0-62 mph in 8.2 seconds

Exterior Design & Retro References

Arguably, Renault have knocked it out of the park again with this offering of the Renault 4. A re-imagined version of the original which has kept true to its roots no matter which angle you look at the car. The Renault 4 shares a platform with the highly regarded Renault 5 so chances are that this will be a top-notch EV too. If we start at the front of the car, the first similarity with the original is the grille which has been modernised to be 1.45 metres long and the whole thing illuminates to bring this car into the 21st century. There are plenty more nods to the original including the way in which the bonnet pours over the front end flowing into that one-piece grille and down into the front bumper. As well as this, the three sculpted lines which run across the front and rear doors on both sides are a nod to the plastic protectors on the original car.

When it comes to colour, there’s six to choose from (on the iconic version) which includes a “diamond black” roof. The options are “carmin red”, “urban grey”, “glacier white”, “diamond black”, “hauts-de-France green” (the colour of the 4 in our video), and “cumulus blue”. There is another feature which harks back to the original which is the brake light design. A spoiler encases the rear of the car which sits at the top of the boot door which when opened reveals 420 litres worth of space at a minimum. There are bag hooks, lashing hooks, rubber bands and storage compartments in there which is a fantastic offering from Renault to meet the needs of a variety of customers. The storage space doesn’t end with the conventional boot space though as there are an additional 55 litres under the boot floor for the charging cables and a removable section (only available in the top two trim levels). If you do need even more space, just fold those rear seats forwards to unlock the full potential of 1,405 litres.

Wheels & Tyre Talk

The Renault 4 comes with a set of 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels and that is your only option. In our review video, the model came with a set of Michelin e.Primacy tyres which have been specifically engineered for hybrid and electric cars.

Michelin says that they offer more range, better fuel savings and long-lasting performance. They have achieved a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from thousands of drivers on DriverReviews.

Interior Design & Tech

Moving to the interior of the car, Vicki firstly points out that there are similarities between this car and the Renault 5 which in her words does make financial sense to share components within a brand. Rightly so though, Vicki does say that she wishes there were a few more unique features in the 4. Having got the worst of the interior news out the way, there are many textures and materials that will make you just want to touch them – perhaps an indicator of luxury within the interior of the Renault 4? It would seem that Vicki agrees as she goes on to say that although this car might not be expensive in the grand scheme of electric cars it doesn’t look or feel budget inside the Renault 4.

If you are considering one of these and a heated steering wheel is a non-negotiable when it comes to choosing a car, then your hand could be forced into buying the range topper (iconic specification) as this feature is only available in the iconic spec. There are two digital screens at play here with one of them giving you all your driving information but with no round dial layout option that we are so accustomed to seeing. The other screen is touchscreen that gives you access to all the usual functions that you would expect from a brand-new car.

Being an automatic there is no traditional gear stick and even for automatic cars, the lever that puts the car into drive, reverse, and neutral, isn’t where you would expect to find it. The gear stick can be found behind the steering wheel just like on a pickup truck. You will notice that ‘park’ was not one of the options listed just now and that is because there is no park option here. That job is entrusted to the electronic “finger brake” which might take some getting used to and Renault have thought about that as it will come on if you open the door in case you forget.

If driving assists are your thing then you will love this car as it comes with 26 different options to choose from. From rear parking sensors to hill start assists, there is also a rear-view camera which is standard on all specifications bar the entry level one so bare that in mind when choosing. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included - if you prefer the operating system of those to the native option – and there’s a pair of charging ports to ensure your device stays powered up for the entire duration of your journey. You might not need to make use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you opt for either of the top two specifications though as they come with Google services and maps to plan your charging routes.

Need to ferry children around? There are two Isofix points in the back, so the Renault 4 does have you covered there. If you have children of teenage years, the Renault 4 also has you covered there too (in all models bar the entry level spec) with two USBc ports to keep mobile phones charged. On the other hand, if you are transporting adults, say, to work in a car share, there is plenty of space and good head room clearance even for 6 footers. However, Vicki says that those rear seats aren’t particularly comfy so perhaps not the best option for a longer journey for those rear passengers. One thing to note is that there is no central arm rest here, so if that is something of importance then we would urge you to look at the Kia EV3 rival.

On the Road: Engine & Performance

Let’s dive straight into the numbers. The Renault 4 will deliver 150 horsepower and 245 Newton metres of torque which isn’t particularly powerful but should be plenty for most use cases. For those of you wondering, those numbers will take you from 0 to 62 miles an hour in 8.2 seconds, so you won’t win many drag races in it. Vicki assures us though that on motorways and dual carriageways there’s enough grunt for clean overtakes and the car has a top speed of 93 mph (just in case you will be taking it on the German Autobahn).

Vicki tells us that the drive is remarkably quiet and gives a sense of a more expensive car but that will mean that any exterior noise will be brought to your attention as it is with the wind around the door mirrors, which of course, increases with speed.

Handling, Braking & Suspension

When it comes to handling, it is light at low speed which would make the 4 an ideal offering for commuting through the city. What is impressive is that Vicki says the steering will continue to do its job without complaints even as the speed increases so there should be no worries taking it on higher speed roads. News from the brakes is that they are just as compliant with a sliding scale of interaction. There is full on one pedal braking, and when you initially lift your foot off the throttle, it has a slightly smoother action than in many other electric cars according to Vicki. There are also levels of lesser regenerative braking and more mechanical braking from the discs.

The suspension is set up more for comfort than precise cornering, with quite soft springs. This gives a ride that, in Vicki's view, is pretty unflappable, creating the impression that you're in a much larger, more luxurious car. Vicki's statement is backed up by evidence in the video, as when she drives over uneven UK road surfaces and starts to wince in anticipation of crashes and thumps underneath her, none occur. There are various driving modes to cycle through which include comfort, personal, eco, and sport although Vicki says that sport is more of a token gesture than anything of note.

Battery Range

This wouldn’t be a good electric vehicle review without talking about the battery range. The Renault 4 will do up to 247 miles between charges and that is depending on the trim level that you choose. If you have just 30 minutes to spare, then you can get the battery topped up to 80% from as little as 15% charge.

Vicki’s Verdict

“This car has the character to appeal to new customers and tap into nostalgia to recapture the old ones”.

In the marketplace, there is tough competition from the more expensive options such as the more sophisticated MINI Aceman and the Kia EV3. However, if you are looking for a solution which offers plenty of value for money than may we suggest you look no further than the Renault 4.

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